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I want to ask a two-part question on authority. First, when there is disagreement among church leaders on matters of faith and/or practice, what is the right way to resolve the dispute and determine who it is that one should listen to- ie., who it is that exercises authority? This pertains more to how authority works among equals, where one person is not expected to submit to another as a matter of habit or expectation.
And second, when a church leader or church leaders do exercise authority over a flock/congregation/ecclesia, what should that authority look like and how should it operate? For the sake of this example, let's say the congregation includes members that are (objectively speaking) of equal or greater intelligence than the person/s in leadership, and most or all of them are bible-literate. We'll also assume that at least a half-dozen from the congregation have been formally ordained at some point, although they do not serve in a formal pastoral capacity at this particular church. (Perhaps they're retired missionaries or pastors, or somebody used to be a youth pastor while working toward a different career- something like that). I know it's not always like this, but for the sake of example, let's say the congregation brings a lot to the table in terms of leadership and experience while not being on the payroll of the church they attend, are members of, and invest in at this time. What should the authority in such a church look like, and how should it operate?
Please feel free to define authority as carefully as you like, and do ask me to explain myself in more specific ways. I'm not trying to make this thread develop in a certain specific way, and I'm interested in seeing what direction everyone else wants to take it in.
And second, when a church leader or church leaders do exercise authority over a flock/congregation/ecclesia, what should that authority look like and how should it operate? For the sake of this example, let's say the congregation includes members that are (objectively speaking) of equal or greater intelligence than the person/s in leadership, and most or all of them are bible-literate. We'll also assume that at least a half-dozen from the congregation have been formally ordained at some point, although they do not serve in a formal pastoral capacity at this particular church. (Perhaps they're retired missionaries or pastors, or somebody used to be a youth pastor while working toward a different career- something like that). I know it's not always like this, but for the sake of example, let's say the congregation brings a lot to the table in terms of leadership and experience while not being on the payroll of the church they attend, are members of, and invest in at this time. What should the authority in such a church look like, and how should it operate?
Please feel free to define authority as carefully as you like, and do ask me to explain myself in more specific ways. I'm not trying to make this thread develop in a certain specific way, and I'm interested in seeing what direction everyone else wants to take it in.
